By FARAI Cheuka
Wilfred Munesi (33) from Madondo village under Chief Makoni in Rusape and Virimai Nyandoro (36) from Marondera were sentenced to 9 years imprisonment by a Harare magistrates for contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.
Brief facts are that on the 2nd of April 2021 Police detectives received information that the accused persons were in possessions of ivory which they were selling in Hatfield,Harare.
Following the tip-off,the Police tracked the accused persons to Hillside and set a trap. The accused persons indicated to the detectives who were disguised as potential buyers that they had 2 elephants tusks which they were selling for USD40 per kilogram. They led the detectives to Mukuvisi River near Brooks Drive in Hillside and retrieved the two elephant tusks. The detectives identified themselves and asked the accused persons to produce a permit that authorises them to possess the ivory.
The accused persons failed to produce a permit leading to their arrest. The recovered pair of ivory tusks weighed 4,73 kilograms and was valued at USD743.
farai.cheuka@zimbawavemedia.co.uk
newsroom@zimbawavemedia.co.uk
SOURCE: National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe
